Saavedra Goes 12 Extra Holes To Qualify For Travelers

OLD LYME — It took him 30 holes and about three extra hours, but Sebastian Saavedra will finally make his PGA Tour debut this week in Cromwell at the Travelers Championship.

With four spots in this week's tournament up for grabs, Saavedra, 28, was the last man standing at the Black Hall Club Monday afternoon. Saavedra of Argentine outlasted Joe Ogilvie and two others in 12 playoff holes to earn the chance to play at TPC River Highlands.

"I'm tired; 12 holes? That's unbelievable," Saavedra said after sinking a par putt on the 18th to beat Ogilvie. "I've played in one playoff, five holes, no more. This was unbelievable."

Saavedra, Ogilvie, Mike Ballo Jr. (Stamford) and Richard Lamb (Bradenton, Fla.) all shot three-under 68s during their rounds at the Travelers Championship qualifier to force the four-way playoff for the fourth and final spot.

Ballo was eliminated after his first crack at the par-4, 397-yard No. 18, and Lamb would last another three holes before giving way to Saavedra and Ogilvie. The two exchanged pars on the 18th hole eight more times, both with ample birdie chances and up-and-down saves. But after climbing No. 18's hill 12 times, Saavedra finally put things away with a 5-foot downhill par putt.

"I'm really happy, I'm ready," he said. "This is my first time on the PGA Tour, I'm very happy."

Lee Janzen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, shot the day's low round of 66 (-5) on the 6,636 yard, par-71 course. Fellow tour members Jason Allred and Marc Turnesa each shot a 67 to qualify.

"[Qualifiers] are more of a sprint than a marathon," the 1993 and '98 U.S. Open winner said. "Yes, you have to be aggressive, but you have to be careful that you aren't so amped up that you can't even play. ... I like [TPC] a lot. I've had a lot of good rounds there, but I've never had a good tournament there, which is puzzling to me."

Much of the state's best local talent had their chance at qualifying as well. Chris DeJohn of Rocky Hill shot a 1-over 72, missing out on a chance to play on his home course at the TPC. DeJohn earned a spot in Monday's qualifier by shooting a 2-over in a pre-qualifying event at Black Hall June 12.

"I didn't putt very well, I missed everything I looked at," said DeJohn. "It was a little frustrating but in these qualifiers you just have to get out there and try to make every putt."

The youngest golfer was Billy Walthouse, 19, of Longmeadow, Mass. Walthouse, who attends the University of Rhode Island, shot even par.

"It was just a great experience. I played pretty well and even though I'm not at the top of the leaderboard, I'm right there with the pack," Walthouse said. "It is definitely a confidence boost."

Adam Rainaud will be the only Connecticut Section PGA member to play at the Travelers, earning an exemption by winning the PGA Spring Stroke Play Championship in May.